Beijing Tightens Its Grip

Beijing slowly and steadily increases its powers of control, both at home abroad.

If Scotland were part of China, then Alex Salmond and his supporters would have been sent to prison a long time ago. That is the only way to interpret Tuesday's ruling by a provincial Chinese court sentencing Uighur academic and activist Ilham Tohti to a life sentence for fomenting separatism.

Largely unnoticed by the rest of the world, Beijing is steadily tightening its control over areas it fears could break away from China if given an opportunity. Contrary to Beijing's hopes, these measures may well result in greater domestic...